In a first-of-its-kind event, Gov. John Kasich signed a higher education bill into law in a ceremony at
Buckeye Boys State Thursday.
"This is all about getting you on the right path and having a guiding star," Kasich said.
The bill – House Bill 484, the first higher education bill by State Rep. Tim Brown – authorizes community
colleges to create a tuition guarantee program, through which schools can establish a tuition cost for
incoming freshmen with the promise that the costs will not increase over the course of the student’s
time at the college.
It also establishes performance-based funding formulas for community colleges and technical centers, and
creates a workgroup to examine financial aid options.
"We want to help kids, because not everyone is on a path to college," said Brown after the
signing.
"A community college can say ‘You come in, the cost is this, and it won’t change as long as you’re
here," Kasich told reporters of the bill.
"We all know that college costs are escalating. We’ve tried to do a number of things to stop
that," including dual high school/college enrollments, getting two-year degrees before finishing at
a four-year college, and other efforts.
"As these cost escalate," he said, students will flock to cheaper online options.
Speaking of the new performance-based funding for community colleges and technical centers – something
under which four-year institutions are already operating – Kasich said "the pressure is now on the
institution to do more… and that’s unprecedented in this country."
"It’s accountability and it’s a guarantee to all of us that you’re going to have a successful
experience."
In his remarks prior to the bill signing, Kasich told the gathered Boys State delegates of his belief
that all people have a special gift of talent in life – and of the importance of discovering what that
talent or purpose is.
"If you can dig down" and find it "you can put yourself on your pathway," he said.

"You can figure out what you’re supposed to do with the rest of your life when you listen."
Kasich also warned the delegates of the dangers of drug use, which he noted is a major problem in the
state and the nation. He told the boys they will confront the issue in some way at some point in their
lives.
"If in fact you experiment and you take drugs, there is almost no way back," he said.
"It can keep you from realizing these gifts."
"Every day in Ohio we are engaged in a battle to try and beat down" the drug problem.